Swarm Statistics

Our swarm collectors run a 'bee advisory' and honey bee swarm collection service on a voluntary basis. They receive a wide range of calls and emails from the public relating to a number of different types of bees (honey bees, bumble bees, solitary bees) and later in the season, wasps. Callers are encouraged to 'live with' bumble bees and solitary bees, as their seasons are short and they play a significant role in the pollination of our food crops. Beekeepers will not collect/remove bumble bees and they do not work with wasps. For wasps, callers are advised to contact their local pest controller.

Honey bees are precious and if a swarm is encountered, a prompt phone call to one of our swarm co-ordinators can result in a new colony of bees being established. Please help us save our honey bees and remember, there is always a beekeeper waiting to nurture a new colony.

Number of swarms collected:64 Number of swarms that stayed in hive: 55 Number of new beekeepers with their 1st colony of bees:14

GALLERY OF SWARM COLLECTING IMAGES

Some examples of where our swarm collectors have collected bees, including the use of Mike Dabb's "Swarm safe" (bee friendly and indirectly uses suction from a gentle vacuum cleaner). PLEASE NOTE - it is NOT safe or recommended to use any standard vacuum technology.